¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves ^(A)to anyone as obedient slaves,^[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But ^(B)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the ^(C)standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, ^(D)having been set free from sin, ^(E)have become slaves of righteousness. ^19 (F)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For ^(G)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members ^(H)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

^20 (I)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

¹⁹ They promise them ^(A)freedom, ^(B)but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.